Europe. Group 2. One of the tough groups – West Germany was favourite, but 3 teams competed for the 2nd place. Malta was the team to beat and secure not only 4 points, but also to improve once goal-difference. Well, theoretically, because Malta came close to upsetting both the Germans and the Portuguese and actually managed to upset the Czechoslovakians. Anyhow, West Germany acomplished its task early – it was unreachable after September 9, 1985, when they tied Sweden 2-2 in Stockholm (after leading 2-0 at the end of the first half) and there were still 6 games to go and West Germany had still 2 more games to play. To a point, West Germany ‘decided’ the second finalist in the is group – the Germans lost at home to Portugal 0-1, which sunk the hopes of Czecholsovakia significantly and then killed those remaining hopes by tying 2-2 the same team again at home: Czecholsovakia was leading 2-1 to the 87th minute, when Rummenigge equalized. That happened in the last round. Those last 6 games settled the matters one by one: at the moment West Germany became the group winner, Portugal had 6 points and 3 games to go, Czechoslovakia had 3 points and 3 games to go, and Sweden – 6 points and 2 games to go. Czechoslovakia won over Portugal at home 1-0. Portugal extracted 3-2 victory against Malta in Lisbon. Sweden looked with best chances at this point, for their rivals had both to visit West Germany and the Swedes had to play their last match against Malta. But it was all or nothing for them – at least a tie had to achieved in the away match with Czechoslovakia and Sweden was seemmingly on the road to success when Corneliusson scored in the 8th minute. But the host equalized in the 41st and in the second half Vizek scored his second goal in the game to give victory to Czecholsovakia. Sweden was out and now Portugal had slightly better chance – they had 8 points, the Czechs – 7, but both teams had to play their last game in West Germany and the likeliest outcome of the visits was German victories. Which was the only hope for Sweden left… in such scenario, they only needed to win in Malta and their already better goal-difference would qualified them. But to bet on other teams… West Germany had nothing to play for. Portugal won 1-0 in Stuttgart and the race was over – the last two games did not matter.
1.GER^ 8 12 5 2 1 22- 9
West Germany was perhaps the strongest performer in Europe – until they qualified. At this moment they had 5 wins and 1 tie. Not an exciting team, but always winning. But when victory was not important… they took it easy, which was somewhat new approach. The machine run in high gear only when mattered. Cold, calculating team, which eventually led to criticism at home and worries about coaching.
2.POR^ 8 10 5 0 3 12-10
Portugal was a team expected to qualify – that based on their great performance at the 1984 European finals, but it was not something taken for granted. Their brightest star – Chalana – was heavily injured and the team started the qualifications shakily. And they were not always convincing: the home game against Malta was a big trouble. They won in West Germany, but the hosts had nothing to play for – if the Germans needed points… But all considered, Portugal was better option than their rivals: it was entertaining team on the rise, unlike its opponents. For the country itself, it was great relief: for the first time after 1966 Portugal was going to play at the World Cup finals.
3.SWE 8 9 4 1 3 14- 9
Sweden ended 3rd, but it was a bit difficult to judge their failure: on one hand, Sweden usually managed to qualify to world finals no matter what kind of players they had – to fail in second consecutive campaign suggested deep problems. On the other hand the crisis detected around 1978 was over – there was new talented generation. Perhaps it was too young and inexperienced yet, perhaps the generational change in the national team was not finished yet and the new team was still in shaping. They missed the finals by little, but missed it.
4.CZE 8 8 3 2 3 11-12
Czechoslovakia failed and that was more of an objective situation, rather than coaching mistakes or underperformance. The pool of talent was short, it happens everywhere at some time. Not enough high quality players and this formation, which played against Sweden, pretty much shows it: Ondra, Micinec, Lauda, Levy, Kula… players, who left little, if any, memories. Frankly, it was better for fotball in general they failed to reach the world finals.
5.MLT 8 1 0 1 7 6-25
Malta… the eternal outsider. There was improvement, though – the team made big problems for West Germany at home and even bigger ones for Portugal in Lisbon. Their only point was extracted from Czechoslovakia, which significantly contributed to failure of the Czechs. Improvement was noticed, but Malta remained a hopeless outsider – only one had to put more effort and be more careful against them.
Group 3. What looked like easy group proved to be intriguing and surprising one – England was the unquestionable favourite and Romania was to be second. Romania was the likeliest finalist not only because of the visible improvement of its football – even if it was not so, Northern Ireland, Finland and Turkey were traditionally weaker, much weaker. England not only won the group, but ended with best record among all European teams: the only unbeaten team in the qualification campaign. England allowed just 2 goals in its net. It was not easy ride bellow them, though. At first, there was nothing to suggest surprise – Northern Ireland lost to Finland in the first group match and then, in the second, overcome Romania in Belfast 3-2. The spirited Irish managed to turn around what looked like lost game – they were trailing 1-2 at the end of the first half. Still, nothing shaking – it was early stage, Irish teams were known to be tough fighters, especially on home turf, but teams like Finland were just as likely winner against the Irish, as any really strong squad. The possibility of upset arrived in June 1985, when Romania was unable to beat Finland in Helsinki: 1-1. Suddenly Northern Ireland and overlooked Finland had a chance. Romania managed to get a point at Wembley and the last 3 games became decisive, no mistakes allowed. Romania had easier schedule than Northern Ireland and Finland already finished its matches and was out of the game with 8 points. Calculations… Romania was hosting Northern Ireland and had its match away in Istanbul. At least 3 points were sure take. Northern Ireland had two away games against Romania and England, which looked like sure losses. The maximum, with some luck, would be two ties – 2 points. Romania was certain World Cup finalist… until the games were played: Northern Ireland won 1-0 in Bucharest and then extracted a point in London. It was over – Romania won 3-1 in Istanbul, but it was entirely meaningless match by now.
1.ENG^ 8 12 4 4 0 21- 2
By itself, nothing unusual in the great English qualification campaign, especially in such a group. But there was new hope, based on new quality: Bobby Robson veered away from the traditional British approach to the game and he was helped by Don Howe, often accused and held suspect in the past for trying to infuse ‘continental’ approach to his teams – more in theory than in practice, but still. The coaches had some key players to use for their ideas – Glen Hoddle, Chris Waddle (both considered ‘continental’ type of players – skillful conductors of the game, who avoided just to run the ball as quickly as possible from defenders to the strikers) and Gary Lineker, who was not at all the usual British center-forward, waiting for a cross from the wingers in the penalty area. At last, it was thought, the English caught up with the modern tendencies – and in that was the revived hope that this team could rise to greatness after so many years of disappointment and shame. The only concern was the fragility of the new stars – Hoddle, Waddle, and Bryan Robson were prone to injuries.
2.NIR^ 8 10 4 2 2 8- 5
The heroes. Few people outside Romania were unhappy of the underdog’s success – it was victory of spirit, for Northern Ireland had, as ever, limited choice of players and there was hardly enough even for a decent starting eleven – no matter how great Norman Whiteside was, he had to play along with the likes of Ian Stewart, there was nobody else. The boys however fought bravely and overachieved. Scoring was a great problem, a traditional problem, so Northern Ireland usually had problems against teams of their or lower level, but they were also incredibly difficult opponent for strong teams.
3.ROM 8 9 3 3 2 12- 7
Romania…easy to say they had only themselves to blame for the failure. One should go back to the 1984 European finals: Romania left very pleasant impression, but it was clear that there is lot to go – it was rising team, but in an early stage and one year later still was exactly that. This line up, which ended 0-0 with England in Bucharest, more or less proves the point – standing from left: Boloni, Stefanescu, Lung, Camataru, Iorgulescu, Coras. Crouching: Klein, Hagi, Ungureanu, Rednic, Negrila. Not bad, tough enough to stay unbeaten against England, but lost a point against Finland and facing rugged fighters like the Irish, just lost at home their most crucial game. Something was missing, something little, but missing… oh, well, the great Steaua squad did not reach its peak yet, that was the little missing thing.
4.FIN 8 8 3 2 3 7-12
Finland did surprisingly well and even briefly had a chance to reach the world cup finals, but one should look at the their results – the success was due mostly the make of the group. For a team like Finalnd, Northern Ireland was beatable at home. So was Turkey. In a good day, with a bit a luck, the Fins could also tie a team like Romania at home. All that brought them points, but the true test was against England – and in it, reality was harsh: 0-5 in London. They did much better at home – 1-1 – but one can also say that England, already confident leader, may be did not play at top gear. Finalnd won 3 games, but 2 of them were against miserable Turkey and they were minimal: 1-0 and 2-1.
5.TUR 8 1 0 1 7 2-24
Turkey had miserable campaign, getting only one point and scoring just 2 goals. All relative… improvement of Turkish football was already noticed, but it did not go as far as the national team. This was one of the most anonymous Turkish squads in the last 20 years. They registered the worst loss in the whole European qualification campaign and at home on top of that: 0-8 against England. Enough said.